System and method for dynamic motorcycle frame

Abstract

A motorcycle having a motorcycle frame that includes one or more frame members with an adjustable mechanism for increasing or decreasing the stiffness of the frame member. By adjusting the stiffness of one or more frame members, the overall stiffness of the motorcycle frame may be increased or decreased. The adjustable mechanism may be controlled by an actuator, such as a hydraulic pump, that is, in turn, controlled by a computer control system. The control system may include sensors for determining performance parameters while the motorcycle is in use. For example, a speedometer may sense motorcycle speed and a gyrometer may sense the orientation of the motorcycle when in turns. Thus, in one example, the stiffness of the motorcycle frame may be increased if the motorcycle speed reaches a threshold speed. Further, the stiffness may be increased if the gyrometer senses that the motorcycle is engaged in a power slide.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A motorcycle frame comprising:
 a frame member having an enclosed chamber; 
 an adjustable mechanism situated within the enclosed chamber; 
 an actuator coupled to the adjustable mechanism and operable to actuate the adjustable mechanism within the enclosed chamber so as to stiffen the frame member; 
 and 
 a controller coupled to the actuator and operable to control the actuator, wherein the controller is configurable to determine a condition during operation of the motorcycle frame and to dynamically adjust stiffness of the frame member in response to the condition; and 
 wherein the adjustable mechanism comprises a hydraulic chamber mechanism. 
 
     
     
       2. The motorcycle frame of  claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic chamber mechanism comprises a biased stabilizing member operable to apply a stiffening force to the frame member. 
     
     
       3. The motorcycle frame of  claim 2 , wherein the biased stabilizing member is an elongated band of a material formed to be bowed during a resting state. 
     
     
       4. The motorcycle frame of  claim 1 , further comprising a mechanism operable to modify hydraulic pressure within the hydraulic chamber mechanism. 
     
     
       5. The motorcycle frame of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor coupled to the controller. 
     
     
       6. The motorcycle frame of  claim 5 , wherein the sensor comprises a speedometer. 
     
     
       7. The motorcycle frame of  claim 5 , wherein the sensor comprises a gyrometer. 
     
     
       8. The motorcycle frame of  claim 5 , wherein the sensor comprises a verticality sensor. 
     
     
       9. A motorcycle frame comprising:
 a frame member; 
 an hydraulic chamber mechanism situated within the frame member; 
 a hydraulic pump coupled to the hydraulic chamber mechanism; and 
 at least one controller coupled to the hydraulic pump and operable to actuate the hydraulic pump so as to expand the hydraulic chamber mechanism within the frame member. 
 
     
     
       10. The motorcycle frame of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is further coupled to a sensor. 
     
     
       11. The motorcycle frame of  claim 10 , wherein the sensor comprises a speedometer. 
     
     
       12. The motorcycle frame of  claim 10 , wherein the sensor comprises a gyrometer. 
     
     
       13. The motorcycle frame of  claim 10 , wherein the sensor comprises a verticality sensor. 
     
     
       14. A motorcycle frame comprising:
 a frame member; 
 a band mechanism situated within the frame member; 
 an actuator coupled to the band mechanism; and 
 at least one controller coupled to the actuator and operable to actuate the band mechanism so as to modify stiffness of the frame member; and 
 wherein the band mechanism comprises
 a movable actuating disk, and 
 a shaft coupled to the movable actuating disk, 
 wherein the shaft is operable to move the movable actuating disk longitudinally within the frame member. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The motorcycle frame of  claim 14 , wherein the band mechanism comprises at least one elongated band situated longitudinally within the frame member. 
     
     
       16. The motorcycle frame of  claim 14 , wherein the movable actuating disk is operable to cause a force to be applied to the frame member, thereby modifying stiffness of the frame member.